Candy tray



A. PFITZER CANDY TRAY Filed July' 5, 1934 provide a Patented Mar. 19, 1935 Nirso srnres Ariz' r owl-'ce CANDY TRAY Adolf Pftzer, Chicago, 111as'signcrt0 Hugh Ag Currie, Chicago, Ill., doing,

Mfg. Co. Application July 5,

10 Claims.

ThisA invention relates to trays, and has to do with trays intended for use in candy factories and for like purposes.

One of the main objects of my invention is'to candy tray particularly suitable for stacking and so constructed as to eliminate danger of a tray, when moved lengthwisadrop'ping into an underlying tray and thus damaging the contents or" the latter.

A further object is to provide a tray oi the character stated which can be advantageously formed of sheet metal and possesses adequate mechanical strength, this tray being suitable forA stacking ywith. similar sheet metal trays or with wood monly used; It is tion to provide a trays such as are now coma further object of myinventra-y of the character stated which, when disposed in stacks, is held against slippage and is well suited for handling, by lift trucks such as are factories.

scription.

Further objects and commonly employed in candy advantages of appear from the detailed de- AIn the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a plan view,

a tray embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an underneath View,

partly broken away, of a tray embodying my invention;

Figui@ 3 is an end view, on an enlarged scale,

partly broken away, of two trays embodying my invention and disposed in stacked relation;

Figure 4 is asection taken substantially on line 4--11 of Figure 3, parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is an end View, partly broken away,

of a stack ol four trays, two of the trays embodying my invention and two oi the trays being wooden trays such as are now commonly used.

The tray of my invention is formed of conveniently sheet `metal and is of rectangular shape, the tray beingV of suitable depth for the purpose for which comprises a flat bo gral withthe bottom wall, and end members 3 of channel cross-section. Each of these end members includes a Vertical bottom wall l, `and ing inward of the it is to be used.v This tray ttom wall 1, side walls 2 intewall 4 extending from a horizontal flange 5 extendtray from'the upper edge of wall 4. Flange 5 overlies; and isspotfwelded to, a flange 6 connected by a short vertical element 7 to a flange 8 at the upper endV of a vertical wall 9 provided at its lower end with an inwardly projecting liange 10 se the upper face ,of b

that each of the end members is of great relative tothe side portion, defined by ated upon, and Spot Welded, t0, ottoni wall l. llt will be noted width walls, and comprises .an Outer the flange .5, the upper face of partly broken away, of

busiiess as Currie which is iiush` with the upper edges ofthe side walls, and an inner depressed portion defined by element 7 and iiange 8 which is below the upper edges of thefside walls; `In order that the'vanges 5 and 6Y may be lspot welded with facility, wallr 4 is provided with suitable openings 11 to accommodate a welding electrode. y Y 'Y Supporting legs 12 are se ured tothe tray at each corner thereof. Conveniently, these legs Vare, formed of sheet metal andare hollow stamp- 10 ings. Each leg is of channel cross-section and is provided, at its upper side; with a peripheralV flange 13 "extending about the sidesand the inner end of the leg. This flange seats against the uny der face of bottom wall 1 and is suitably secured 15 thereto, conveniently by spotwelding.V The outer end of each leg 12 is closed by a wall 14 which is inclined downward and outward of the tray soas to extend beyond the adjacent side wall 2. Each leg is provided, at the outer lowercorner thereof; 20 with a notch 15 extending transversely of the leg andparallel with sidewall 2. The inner side of Y this'notoh is disposed substantially in the plane of the inner f ace of adjacent side wall 2 of the tray and the leg is disposed substantially in the 25 plane. of the channel-shaped depression deiined by element 7 and flange 8 of the adjacent end member of the tray. It will thus be seen that the distance between the inner sides of the notches of the legs ateach end of the tray corresponds 30 to the interior width of the tray, and the distance between each two of the legs at Veach side of the tray is substantially the same as'the distance between verticalelements 7 at the ends of the tray, that is, the distance between the outer or unde- 35 pressed portions. of the nend members.

The under face of each leg 1,2, designated 16, is of considerable length, flat and". parallel with boi-,torn` wall 1, this under-face being connected to bottom wall by an inclined elementl 17 in the ,40 nature of a. strut efletivelyA bracing the leg f against stresses inward and transversely ofthe tray. Bottom wall lofthe leg is provided with a suitable number of downwardly projecting elements 18 in the nature ci .rounded points. and 4s flange 5 of each of the'end members of the tray is provided with a plurality of similar elements 19 projecting upward' therefrom.4 `These lelernents are intended to press'into the corresponding portions of `wood trays, such as arejnow com- Il-Only used, which may 19.9 diSDQSt-f ill-stacked relation with metal trays embodying my inveny tion, it beine noted that. the meteltravs @my invention are of ,the saine general ,dimensions as the wood trays-.ordinarily uscd- When the legs 12 of the upper tray t into the channel elements of the end members of the lower tray and are disposed snugly between the side walls of this lower tray so as to prevent relative transverse movement between the two trays`,`the legs of the upper tray and the outer raised portions of the end members of the lower tray cooperating to hold the trays against relative endwise movement. It will be noted that in this posi- V`tion of the tray,the upper sides of the notches of the legs of the upper tray provide elements whichY overlie the upper edges of the side walls 2 of the lower tray in proximity thereto. In the event the upper tray is moved lengthwise relative to the lower trai7 to such an extent as to move the legs l2 at one end of the upper tray inwardly of the lower tray and 01T of the iiange 8 of the adjacent end member ofthe lower tray, slight downward movement ofthe upper tray brings the legs thereof, at the upper sides of the notches l5, into contact with the-upper edges of the side walls of the lower tray. Thereafter, any lengthwise movement of the upper tray results in moving the legs thereof along the side walls of the preclude possibility of the upper tray dropping lower tray, the upper tray being thus supported in such a manner as to prevent movement thereof downward into the lower tray to such an extent Vas to damage the contents of the latter.l In this connection, it is to be noted that the walls 40 at the inner sides of the notches of the legs of the upper tray t snugly between the side walls of the lowerv tray and, since Y these notches are of considerable width lengthwise of the tray,

into the lower tray due to any slight lateral kturning of the upper tray during lengthwise movement thereof.

YIn Figure 5 I have illustrated a stack Yof four trays, the two center trays of the stack being metal trays embodying my invention, and the top and bottom trays ZOQand 21respectively, being wood trays such as are now in'cominon use. The-two metal trays are eectively held against relative movement in the manner above described in connection with Figures 3 and 4. The top wood tray-20 is held against relative movement withy respect to the adjacent metal tray by engagement of elements 19 of the end members of this metal tray into the wood tray, and the bottom wood tray is heldagainst movement relative to the adjacent metal tray by elementsV 18 of legs 12 of the latter tray, as previously described. It will be understood that, in practice, the trays are commonly disposed in stacks each containing a considerable number of trays so that any wood trays in the stack and an appreciable distance below the top thereof would be Y subjected to considerable pressure, under which conditions the elements 18 and 19l of the metal trays. are highly effective for securing the Vwood trays in position in the stack.` The legs 12 are spaced apartV transversely vof the tray, as illustrated, and accommodate therebetween lift elements of lift trucks such as are commonly used in candy factoriesand similarA establishments,

that the end members of the bottom tray of a stack frequently have to supportA considerable weight, and the channel construction of these end members is advantageous as providing a light structure which possesses great'mechanical strength adequate stresses to which these end members are subjected in practice.

`What I claim is:-

l. As a new article of manufacture, artray intended'for stacking, said tray being of rectangular Vshape and comprising a bottom wall'and side walls and relatively wide end members having the inner portions of their top surfaces depressed below the side walls to provide channels, and supporting legs secured to the under face ofthe bottom wall atthe corners thereof, said legs extending outward beyond the side walls and each provided with a notch in its outer lower portion, they notches of the legs at each end ofthe tray being spaced aparta distance corresponding to the interior width of the tray, the legs at each' side of Ythetray being spaced apart a distance`A corresponding to the distance between the outer portions of saidend members and adapted toi Y t into the channels of asimilar underlying tray,-

the top surfaces of saidouter portions of theV end members being iiush with the upper edges of the side walls and the being hat and parallel with under faces-.of the legs4 the bottom plate,

to withstand the severe Y said outer portions of the end membersbeing provided with upwardly projecting pointed elements and the legs being provided, at the'under Y faces thereof, pointed elements.

with 'downwardly v projecting 2; As a new Varticle of manufacture, a tray intendedV for stacking, said tray being of rectangular shape and comprising a bottom wall and4 a side walls and relatively wide end members having the inner portions of their top` surfaces'depressed below the sidewalls to provide'channels, and supporting Ylegs securedto the under face of the bottom wall at the'corne'rs thereof, said legs extending outward beyond the side walls andV each provided with a notch in its outer lower portion, the notches of the legs ateach end ofthe tray being spaced apart a'distance correspondingto the interior width of the tray, thelegs at each side of the tray being spaced apart a distance corresponding to thev distance between the outer portions of said end membersandA lar shape and comprising a bottom wall and sideV walls and relatively wide end members having the inner portions of .their top surfacesdepressedj below the sidewalls to provide channels, and supporting legs secured to the tray atthe vcorners thereof and extending downward-therefrom, said legs extending outward beyond the side walls and each provided with a notch in its outer lower portion, the notches of the legs at each end of the tray being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the interior width of the tray, the` legs at each side of' the tray being spaced apart ya distance corresponding to the distance between the outer portions of said end members and adaptedto nt into the channels of a similar underlying tray, the top surfaces of said outer portions of the end members being iiush with the upper edges of the side walls and the under faces of the legs being flat and parallel with the bottom plate.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a metal trayv intended for stacking, saidVV tray being oi rectangular shape and comprising a bottom wall and side walls 4and relatively wide end members, each of said end members comprising an cuter portion having its upper face flush with the upper edges of the side walls and an inner portion depressed below the upper edges of said side walls, and supporting legs secured to the corners of the tray and extending downward therefrom, said legs extending outward beyond the side walls and each having a notch in its lower outer portion, the notches of the legs at each end of the tray being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the interior width of the tray and the legs at each side of the tray being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the outer portions vof ysaid end members.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a tray intended for stacking, said tray being of rectangular shape and comprising a bottom wall and side walls and relatively wide end members, each of said members comprising an outer portion having its upper face ush with the upper edges of the side walls and an inner portion depressed below the upper edges of said side walls, and supporting legs secured to the corners of the'tray and extending downward therefrom, said legs being notched and disposed to t between the side walls and the outer portions of the end members of a similar lower tray disposed in stacked relation thereto, with the legs of the upper tray seating upon the inner portions of the end members of the lower tray and thenotches of the legs of the upper tray engaging over the side walls oi the lower tray.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a tray intended for stacking, said tray being of rectangular shape and comprising a bottom wall and side walls and relatively wide end members, each of said end members comprising an outer portion having its upper face iiush with the upper edges of the side walls and an inner portion depressed below the upper edges of said side walls, and supporting legs secured to the corners of the tray and extending downward therefrom, said legs being disposed to nt between the side walls and the outer portions of the end members of a similar lower tray disposed in stacked relation thereto, with the legs of the upper tray seating upon the inner portions of the end members of the lower tray, said legs having elements extending laterally therefrom and disposed to overlie the side walls of the lower tray in proximity to the upper edges of the side walls of the latter.

7. As a new article or" manufacture, a tray intended for stacking, said tray being of rectangular shape and` comprising a bottom wall and side walls and relatively wide end members, each of` said end members comprising an outer portion having its upper race iiush with the upper edges of the side walls and an inner portion depressed below the upper edges of said sidewalls, and supporting legs secured to the corners of the tray and extending downward therefrom, said legs being notched and disposed to t between the side walls and the outer portions ofthe end members of a similar lower tray disposed in stacked relation thereto, with the legs of the upper tray seating upon the inner portions of the end members of the lower tray and the notches of the legs of the upper tray engaging over the side walls of the lower tray, the outer portions of the end members being provided with upwardly projecting pointed elements and the legs being provided, at the under faces thereof, with downwardly projecting pointed elements.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a metal tray intended for stacking, said tray being of rectangular shape and comprising a bottom wall and side walls and end. members of channel crosssection, each end member comprising an outer portion having its top surface flush with the upper edges of the side walls and an inner portion depressed below the top edges of said side walls, and legs secured to the corners of the tray and extending downward therefrom, said legs extending outward beyondthe side walls and each being provided in its lower outer corner with a transverse notch extending parallel with the adjacent side wall with the inner side of the notch substantially in the plane of the'inner face of said adjacent side wail, the legs at each end of the tray being substantially in the plane of the inner depressed portion of the adjacent end mem- Y ber.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a tray intended for stacking, said tray being of rectangular shape and comprising a bottom wall and side walls and end members, each end member comprising an outer portion having its topL surface flush with the upper edges of the side walls and an innerportion depressed below the top edges of said side walls, and legs secured to the corners of the tray and extending downward therefrom, said legs extending outward beyond the side walls and each being provided inits lower outer corner with a transverse notch extending parallel with the adjacent side wall with the inner side of the notch substantially in the plane of the inner` Yto said bottom wall, each end member comprising an outer portion having its top surface flush with the upperredges of the side walls and an innerl portion depressed below the top edges of said side walls, and legs secured to the corners of the tray and extending downward therefrom, said legs extending outward beyond the side walls and each being provided in its lower outer corner with a transverse notch extending parallel with the adjacent side wall with the inner side of the notch substantially in the plane of the inner face of said adjacent side wall, the legs at each end of the tray being substantially in the plane of the inner depressed portion of the adjacent end member and the height of the legs being materially greater than the depth of said inner depressed portions of said end members.

ADOLF PFITZER. 

